EP1242986B1 - Method and device for controlling the operation of electronic devices in an aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus that enables control via a wireless data connection of portable electronic devices while the devices are in an airplane. The wireless data connection of some embodiments is operable to control the power state of the portable electronic device via the wireless data connection. The invention provides in further embodiments the ability to communicate other data such as flight data to the portable electronic devices via the wireless data connection. In some embodiments, the wireless data connection and portable electronic device comprise a Bluetooth wireless data connection operatively coupled to a portable computer.

Description

Field of the Invention
• The invention relates generally to wireless communication of data incomputers, and more specifically to use of wireless communication to communicatebetween laptop computers or other electronic devices and an airplane data system in anairplane.
Background
• Concerns over electrical interference caused by electronic devices operatedonboard aircraft has led to prohibition of use of most electronic devices during certainportions of a flight. It is widely believed that many microprocessor-driven devicesmay emit radio frequency noise that can interfere with an airplane's communication orflight control systems, and so pose a safety risk to the operation of the airplane. Also,devices such as cellular phones that are designed to emit radio signals at certainfrequencies are similarly subject to restricted use rules, due to the same concerns overinterference with electronic systems within the airplane.
• Specific classes of electronic devices are typically subject to restrictions on usethat vary with the perceived risk of interference and ease of deactivation. Forexample, watches, pacemakers and hearing aids may usually be used at any time,while use of devices such as radio transmitters, cellular telephones and remote-controlledtoys is often banned altogether. But, a certain class of mid-risk devicesoften may be used during flights, but are prohibited from use during takeoffandlanding. Such devices include handheld calculators or computer games, portable computer devices, portable compact disc and tape players, andelectric shavers. While such devices may be used during theflight, the risk of interference is considered great enoughthat flight attendants enforce prohibition of their use duringtakeoff and landing by careful monitoring of passengeractivity.
• But, the few flight attendants an a typical flight mayhave a difficult time monitoring all passengers and ensuringcompliance with the restriction, and even a single electronicdevice may emit enough radio frequency interference tointerfere with the electronic systems on an aircraft. Eventhose passengers who desire to be in compliance withrestrictions an use of electronic devices may not hearwarnings, may turn electronic devices on too soon alfertakeoff, or may continue to operate devices into the landingportion of the flight. There is a need for a method or adevice that serves to restrict operation of electronic devicesduring restricted portions of flight such as landing andtakeoff, and that does so without requiring passenger action.
• In WO 99/55102 a system for location and serviceprovisioning based on mobile phone location is disclosed.
• DE 197 30 595 C1 discloses a device including atransponder which notifies a base station if a portabledevice, such as a mobile telephone, CD player, radiocommunications device, computer, remote control toy, etc., isnot switched off.
• From WO 97/49255 a method for eliminating the disturbancecaused by a mobile station situated within a certain area isknown. In order to be able to prevent disturbance caused by amobile station reliably, the mobile station is provided withcontrol means for the muting of the mobile station as aresponse to a predetermined message transmitted to the mobilestation, and transmitting means are arranged in said certainarea for the transmitting of said predetermined message to a mobile station situated in the area in order to mute themobile station.
• GB 2 329 794 A discloses an apparatus for controlling anelectronic device as it approaches a controlled zone. Theapparatus includes a controller with an antenna located at anaccess point to the zone.
Summary of the Invention
• The present invention provides a method and apparatus thatenables control via a wireless data connection of portableelectronic devices while the devices are in an airplane. Thewireless data connection of some embodiments is operable tocontrol the power state of the portable electronic device viathe wireless data connection. The invention provides infurther embodiments the ability to communicate other data suchas flight data to the portable electronic devices via thewireless data connection. In some embodiments, the wirelessdata connection and portable electronic device comprise aBluetooth wireless data connection operatively coupled to aportable
Brief Description of the Figures
• Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a general purpose computer as may be usedto practice an embodiment of the present.
• Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a system for controlling portable electronicdevices on an airplane via a wireless connection, consistent with an embodiment of thepresent invention.
Detailed Description
• In the following detailed description of sample embodiments of the invention,reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and inwhich is shown by way of illustration specific sample embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical, and otherchanges may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the presentinvention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limitingsense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims.
• The present invention provides a method and apparatus that enables control ofportable electronic devices while in an airplane via a wireless data connection. Thewireless data connection of some embodiments is operable to control the power stateof the portable electronic device via the wireless data connection. In various embodiments, the portable electronic device is a portable computerized device such asa laptop. The invention provides in further embodiments the ability to communicateother data such as flight data to the portable electronic devices via the wireless dataconnection.
• Figure 1 illustrates a general-purposepersonal computer system 100, such asmay be used as a portable electronic device consistent with the present invention. Inthis embodiment,processor 102,system controller 112,cache 114, and data-path chip118 are each coupled tohost bus 110.Processor 102 is a microprocessor such as a486-type chip, a Pentium®, Pentium II® or other suitable microprocessor.Cache 114provides high-speed local-memory data (in one embodiment, for example, 512 kB ofcache memory) forprocessor 102, and is controlled bysystem controller 112, whichloadscache 114 with data that is expected to be used soon after the data is placed incache 112.Main memory 116 is coupled betweensystem controller 114 and data-pathchip 118, and in one embodiment, provides random-access memory of between 16 MBand 128 MB of data. In one embodiment,main memory 116 is provided on SIMMs(Single In-line Memory Modules), while in another embodiment,main memory 116 isprovided on DIMMs (Dual In-line Memory Modules), each of which plugs intosuitable sockets provided on a motherboard holding many of the other componentsshown in Figure 1.Main memory 116 includes standard DRAM (Dynamic Random-AccessMemory), EDO (Extended Data Out) DRAM, SDRAM (SynchronousDRAM), RDRAM (Rambus DRAM), or other suitable memory technology.Systemcontroller 112 controls PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)bus 120, a local busforsystem 100 that provides a high-speed data path betweenprocessor 102 and various peripheral devices, such as graphics devices, storage drives, network cabling,etc. Data-path chip 118 is also controlled bysystem controller 112 to assist in routingdata betweenmain memory 116,host bus 110, andPCI bus 120.
• In one embodiment,PCI bus 120 provides a 32-bit-wide data path that runs at33 MHz. In another embodiment,PCI bus 120 provides a 64-bit-wide data path thatruns at 33 MHz. In yet other embodiments,PCI bus 120 provides 32-bit-wide or 64-bit-widedata paths that runs at higher speeds. In one embodiment,PCI bus 120provides connectivity to I/O bridge 122,graphics controller 127, and one or more PCIconnectors 121 (i.e., sockets into which a card edge may be inserted), each of whichaccepts a standard PCI card. In one embodiment, I/O bridge 122 andgraphicscontroller 127 are each integrated on the motherboard along withsystem controller112, in order to avoid a board-connector-board signal-crossing interface and thusprovide better speed and reliability. In the embodiment shown,graphics controller127 is coupled to a video memory 128 (that includes memory such as DRAM, EDODRAM, SDRAM, SGRAM or VRAM (Video Random-Access Memory)), and drivesVGA (Video Graphics Adaptor)port 129.VGA port 129 can connect to industry-standardmonitors such as VGA-type, SVGA (Super VGA)-type, XGA-type(extended Graphics Adaptor) or SXGA-type (Super XGA) display devices. Otherinput/output (I/O) cards having a PCI interface can be plugged intoPCI connectors121.
• In one embodiment, I/O bridge 122 is a chip that provides connection andcontrol to one or more independent IDE connectors 124-125, to a USB (UniversalSerial Bus)port 126, and to ISA (Industry Standard Architecture)bus 130. In this embodiment,IDE connector 124 provides connectivity for up to two standard IDE-typedevices such as hard disk drives, CDROM (Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory)drives, DVD (Digital Video Disk) drives, or TBU (Tape-Backup Unit) devices. In onesimilar embodiment, twoIDE connectors 124 are provided, and each provide theEIDE (Enhanced IDE) architecture. In the embodiment shown, SCSI (SmallComputer System Interface)connector 125 provides connectivity for up to seven orfifteen SCSI-type devices (depending on the version of SCSI supported by theembodiment). In one embodiment, I/O bridge 122 providesISA bus 130 having oneor more ISA connectors 131 (in one embodiment, three connectors are provided). Inone embodiment,ISA bus 130 is coupled to I/O controller 152, which in turn providesconnections to twoserial ports 154 and 155,parallel port 156, and FDD (Floppy-DiskDrive)connector 157. In one embodiment,ISA bus 130 is connected tobuffer 132,which is connected toX bus 140, which provides connections to real-time clock 142,keyboard/mouse controller 144 and keyboard BIOS ROM (Basic Input/Output SystemRead-Only Memory) 145, and tosystem BIOS ROM 146.
• A PCMCIA card controller (also known as a PC Card controller or CardBuscontroller) 160 is in one embodiment connected to thePCI bus 120, and is operable tointerface thecomputer 100 to various PCMCIA hardware cads that may be insertedinto PCMCIA slots of the computer system. The PCMCIA slots may receive, forexample, a wireless data communication card such as a Bluetooth system complaintcommunication card.
• Figure 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of a computer system that may beused with the present invention, however other configurations, such as varying bus structures and memory arrangements are specifically contemplated and are within thescope of the invention. For example, the computer system of Figure 1 is in oneembodiment of the invention implemented as a portable laptop computer systemequipped with wireless data communication capability.
• Figure 2 illustrates a system for controlling portable electronic devices on anairplane via a wireless connection, consistent with an embodiment of the presentinvention. Embodiments of both the apparatus and of methods of use of the apparatusconsistent with the present invention are described herein, with reference to theelements of Figure 2.
• An electronic device control apparatus 201 has operatively coupled to it awireless communication device 202 operable to send a wireless signal. The electronicdevice control apparatus is in some embodiments a personal computer with softwareexecuting thereon that enables the computer to send various signals via thewirelesscommunication device 202. Thewireless communication device 202 is in variousembodiments an infrared interface such as an IrDA (Infrared Data Association)interface, a radio-frequency interface such as a Bluetooth wireless interface, or anyother suitable device. In various embodiments, the wireless communication device isoperable only to broadcast or to send data, while in other embodiments the wirelesscommunication device comprises a transceiver that supports 2-way communication.
• The electronic device control apparatus 201 utilizes thewirelesscommunication device 202 to communicate with at least one portableelectronic device203. The portableelectronic device 203 may be any portable electronic device,including in various embodiments portable computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistant (PDA) devices such as the PalinPilot PDA, or any other suitabledevice. The portableelectronic device 203 comprises in part a wirelesssignalreceiving device 204 operable to receive a wireless communication signal from thewireless communication device 202. The wirelesssignal receiving device 204 may beany type of device that is capable of receiving a wireless signal as is emitted bywireless communication device 202, and so varies with various embodiments of thewireless communication device. For example, the wirelesssignal receiving device 204of one embodiment is a Bluetooth wireless data communication device implementedin a PC Card (also known as a PCMCIA card or CardBus card) which interfaces with aportable personal computer as is shown in Figure 2.
• In various embodiments of the invention, any number of portableelectronicdevices 203, 205 and 206 may receive the signal emitted by thewirelesscommunication device 202. These portable electronic devices may be of varying type,so long as each device in a single embodiment of the system is capable of receiving asignal emitted by thewireless communication device 202 of the same system.
• In operation, the electronic device control apparatus sends data viawirelesscommunication device 202 that indicates a desired operational or power state of the atleast one portableelectronic device 203, 205 and 206. For example, when an airplaneis preparing to land, the electronic device control apparatus initiates sending of datavia thewireless communication device 202, the data indicating that the portableelectronic devices are to be brought to a reduced power or operational state that resultsin a reduction in potential for radiated radio frequency emissions that may interferewith electronic systems on the airplane.
• The electronic device or devices are capable of receiving the transmitted datavia the wirelesssignal receiving devices 204 associated with each electronic device,and are further capable of altering the electronic device power state in response to thetransmitted signal. For example, where the signal indicates that the devices are tooperate in reduced power state to reduce radio frequency emissions, each portableelectronic device receives the signal and reduces its power state if necessary. Invarious embodiments, the portable electronic devices may in response to such a signaleither power up or power down entirely, or may increase or reduce function such thatthe potential for radiated interference during decreased function is greatly reduced.For example, a device may reduce its clock speed in response to a signal indicating areduced power state, where the reduction in clock speed results in a reduction in highfrequencyradio frequency emissions.
• In still further embodiments, the wireless data connection is further operable totransmit flight data information or other data, providing additional data to the portableelectronic devices 203, 205, and 206. The flight data comprises data such as arrivaland departure times, flight maps, food and beverage service information, in-flightentertainment information, or other similar information. In still other embodiments,the wireless data connection provides additional data, such as a connection to theInternet or e-mail capability. Such enhanced capability may be provided in variousembodiments for a fee, or may be provided to passengers in certain classes of travel, orotherwise restricted in availability.
• Communication between the electronic device control apparatus 201 and the atleast one portableelectronic device 203 is in some embodiments provided via a Bluetooth wireless communication device, which is a devicesupporting a wireless communication standard developed by theBluetooth Special Interest Group, a consortioum of computerand wireless communication companies. The Bluetooth wirelesscommunication standard is an example of a wirelesscommunication system that is sometimes referred to as a PAN,or private area network system. Use of such systems isconsistent with the present invention, which in differentembodiments may also implement any other suitable wirelessdata communication methods.
• The present invention provides in its various embodimentsa method and apparatus that enable control via a wireless dataconnection of portable electronic devices while the devicesare in an airplane. The wireless data connection of someembodiments is operable to control the power state of theportable electronic device via the wireless data connection.The invention provides in further embodiments the ability tocommunicate other data such as flight data to the portableelectronic devices via the wireless data connection. In someembodiments, the wireless data connection and portableelectronic device comprise a Bluetooth wireless dataconnection device or other personal area network connectiondevice operatively coupled to a portable computer.
• Although specific embodiments have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinaryskill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specificembodiments shown. This application is intended to cover anyadaptations or variations of the invention. It is intendedthat this invention be limited only by the claims.

Claims (4)

1. A method for remotely controlling the operation of at least one portable electronicdevice (203) while the portable electronic device (203) is on an aircraft comprising:

   providing a data signal via a wireless data connection to the portable electronicdevice (203) indicating a desired power state of the portable electronic device (203);

   changing the current power state of the portable electronic device (203) to thedesired power state in response to the data signal if the current power state is not the desiredpower state during restricted portions of a flight; and

   transmitting flight-related data via the wireless data connection to the portableelectronic device (203).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless data connection comprises a Bluetoothwireless data connection.
3. An electronic device control apparatus (201) for use on an airplane, theelectronic device control apparatus (201) operable to send a data signal via awireless data connection to at least one portable electronic device (203) to control thepower state of the at least one portable electronic device (203), during restricted portions of a flight, the portable electronic device(203) operable to change its power state inresponse to the wireless signal, and the electronic device control apparatus(201) operable to provide flight-related data to the at least one portable electronic device(203) via the wireless signal.
4. The eletronic device control apparatus (201) of claim 3, furthercomprising a Bluetooth wireless data transmitter (202) operable to send the wireless signalfrom the electronic device control apparatus (201) to the at least one portableelectronic device (203).

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